Advisory Councils

Outdoor Industry Association has three advisory councils to lead and guide the work in Sustainability, Trade Policy and Recreation Policy. These advisory councils influence OIA initiatives, educate fellow OIA members and help foster a thriving outdoor industry.

Sustainability Advisory Council

The Sustainability Advisory Council supports OIA sustainable business in its mission to empower every outdoor company to take bold steps to achieve positive impact. This is primarily demonstrated through their leadership and guidance of the OIA Climate Action Corps.

  • Matt Thurston, Director of Sustainability, REI (Advisory Council Chair)
  • Betsy Blaisdell, Head of Supply Chain Environmental Responsibility, Patagonia
  • Danielle Cresswell, Senior Sustainability Manager, Klean Kanteen
  • Guru Larson, Global Environmental Lead, Columbia
  • Marie Mawe, Sustainability Stakeholder Engagement, W.L. Gore
  • Libby Sommer, Director of Corporate Responsibility, Bolt Threads
  • Jenn Swain, Global Senior Sustainability Manager, Burton

To learn more about the Sustainability Advisory Council, contact the OIA Sustainability Team.

Recreation Advisory Council

The Recreation Advisory Council is an advisory board that provides guidance to OIA on various recreation-related policy issues, such as: engagement on the Land Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), public land funding initiatives, protection and new designations of our public lands for recreation use and ensuring access to outdoor recreation for the next generation.

  • Taldi Harrison, REI (Chair)
  • Cassandra Prenn-Vasilakis, HipCamp (Vice Chair)
  • Steve Barker, Wild Places, OIA
  • Kristen Blackburn, The Conservation Alliance
  • Brady Robinson, The Conservation Alliance
  • Louis Geltman , Outdoor Alliance
  • Andy Foster, L.L. Bean
  • Ross Saldarini, Yellowstone Advisors
  • Eric Raymond, The North Face
  • Marc Berejka, REI
  • Dave Polivy, Tahoe Mountain Sports
  • Ashley Korenblat, Western Spirit
  • Adam Cramer, Outdoor Alliance
  • Hans Cole, Patagonia
  • Brad Werntz, Boulders/New Normal Consulting
  • Erin Gaines, KEEN Footwear

For more information, contact the Government Affairs team at ga@outdoorindustry.org.

Trade Advisory Council

The Trade Advisory Council reviews U.S. trade policy, relevant federal legislation and international trade negotiations, develops federal trade policy that may affect OIA membership and recommends policy positions to OIA government affairs staff and OIA leadership.

  • Ben Christensen, Director of Global Sourcing and Financial Planning, Simms Fishing (Bozeman, MT) (Chairman)
  • Sara Bowersox, Global Compliance Manager, Keen (Portland OR) (Vice-Chair)
  • Marc Berejka – Director, Government Affairs, Recreational Equipment Inc. (Kent, WA)
  • Mike DeVitto, Senior Manager of International Logistics and Trade Compliance, LL Bean (Freeport, ME)
  • Scott Ermetti, President of International Business, Pelican Products (Torrance, CA)
  • Fred Ferguson – VP, Public Affairs, Vista Outdoor (Farmington, UT/Washington, D.C.)
  • Tony Ferguson – Logistics Administrator, Patagonia (Ventura, CA)
  • Patrick Fox – Director of Customs Compliance, V.F. Corp (Denver, CO)
  • Jann Futrell, Director Global Trade, The Coleman Company (Wichita, KS)
  • Al Gapinski, Director of Sourcing, Materials, Development and Quality, PEARL iZUMi (Louisville, CO)
  • Jody Graham, Global Production and Logistics Manager KUHL USA (Salt Lake City, UT)
  • Jen Kissner, Director Customs and Trade Advisory, Newell Brands
  • Lisa Leffler, Senior Global Logistics Manager, Black Diamond (Salt Lake City, UT)
  • Kristy Marvin, General Counsel, Timberland (Stratham, NH)
  • Brent Merriam, VP/Outdoors, NEMO Equipment (Dover, NH)
  • Quinn O’Rourke – Logistics and Customs Manager, LaCrosse Footwear Inc. (Portland, OR)
  • Mike Ratchford – Government Relations Associate, W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc (Newark, DE)
  • Mike Rigney – VP of Operations, Orvis (Arlington, VT/Roanoke, VA)
  • Tony Roina – Manufacturing and Sourcing Manager, Big Agnes (Steamboat Springs, CO)
  • Chris Rischke – Director of Operations, Oboz Footwear (Bozeman, MT)
  • Mario Roman, Director of Sourcing, Marmot (Rohnert Park, CA)
  • Drew Saunders – Operations Director, Salewa (Boulder, CO)
  • Chris Sentementes – VP of Global Sourcing and Business Development, PrimaLoft
  • Rachael Slisz, Manger, Imports, Eddie Bauer (Bellevue, WA)
  • Monica Thornton – Customs Manager, Helen of Troy (El Paso, TX)
  • Jeff Tooze – Director, Global Customs and Trade, Columbia Sportswear (Portland, OR)

For more information, contact the Government Affairs team at ga@outdoorindustry.org.

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